To take all our washing to the launderette once a week to escape the daily washing nightmare?

[head2toeinuniqlo]

A new launderette has opened in our suburb.

We are a family of four. I WFH, around 70 hours per week. I am also responsible for all the cleaning, cooking and washing for the family. The problem with the washing is its sheer relentlessness. Not only that, but none of these lazy fuckers put their clean washing away. It invariably ends up back in the dirty washing hampers and, if a pile of clean clothes is left unattended, our cat will shit on it so it will need re-washing. I am so exhausted and trying to take some of the daily grind off me.

The launderette has captured my imagination. I see it as a possible sanctuary. It is brand new and shiny with loads of machines and places to sit. I am thinking I could drive down on a Saturday morning, chuck all the clothes in the machines, get myself a coffee and a croissant and sit there for a couple of hours in peace, reading a book.

It won't be cheap, but can I justify it?

Absolutely.
If you want to maximise the time, book a click and collect shop for the same time. Then tell DP you're off to do the weekly shop/laundry
And enjoy your peace

YES! There’s an upside to getting it all done in one go and having a home that doesn’t have clothes hanging up and draped on bannisters justifies the cost.

Or there are lots of places like laundry apps that will collect, wash and return all folded for you.

I’d do it! But rather than at the weekend, can you not do some work there whilst it’s washing? Also though why on earth are you working for 70 hours a week? And why is your cat shitting in the house?

Yes! But also you should only take your own washing and all the "lazy fuckers" can fend for themselves.

You can justify it.

But I’d actually address the root cause - why are you solely responsible for all the domestic work? Why are you putting up with clean clothes being ruined or just put back in the wash?

Stop doing and redoing their washing? Maybe then they'll become more proactive? Can you also keep the cat confined to rooms without clothes, so it doesn't 💩 on them?
You're also not unreasonable if the launderette option makes your life easier - lots of people contract stuff out, paying more in terms of money, but gaining in time.

Oh yes this sounds genius. Please do i!

I used to do this in the winter, I'd wash everything then take it wet to the laundrettes and run it all through the dryer. Then we bought our own tumble dryer and I do sometimes find myself missing the laundrette. I'd get everything in, wander to the petrol station on the corner and get a chocolate bar and a Costa from the machine, then spend a couple of hours reading my book in the toasty warm laundrette and go home with bags of dry folded clothes.

Sounds unreasonable to me and an unnecessary expense.

How old are the other 3, are they old enough to learn how to use a washing machine and put their clothes away ?You're not responsible if they can't do this simple task.

Can you train the cat shit in the litter ?

When my washing machine needed a new part three week wait. I took it all down to a service launderette, who washed, dried and folded beautifully. It was bliss.

Echoing pp here but why are you responsible for everyone’s laundry? How did you sign up for that and can you stop?

How old are the kids? If they are 2 fair enough if 12 or over they can do their own laundry, same for your DH.

I would but I would be really careful that DH didn’t start an affair with the laundress.

No advice really but just to say as a single mother of 3 I have had the same thoughts (our laundrette is however not shiny or new). It would be nice to have a single day in my life not having to put a load of washing on and then as you say it sits on the stairs forever where everyone meticulously steps over it or the cats knock it down.
i have no idea what the cost would be (bear in mind you would be saving in your own electricity/wear and tear). Would be interested to know if you have calculated it?

Have you seen the price off laundrettes recently

my friend uses the one in Morrisons car park
round by us there’s a few petrol stations and supermarkets that have them in the carpark
she takes all towels and bedding think it’s ether 20 or 1& kg puts them in while she shops

More concerned with why you're doing all the cleaning and washing when you work that many hours?

What are the rest of them doing? If you have a partner, delegate some of the chores to him. If the dc are old enough, make doing chores part of the deal when it comes to pocket money.

This is next level genius

What ages are the lazy fuckers? Old enough to do their own washing?

And why do all the house chores / cooking / cleaning etc fall on you alone if you are working 70 hours per week? Surely there should be an even split with your partner, and also your kids should help out more.

I have used launderettes in the past when life has got too overwhelming, and I just needed to get the decks cleared - but I used to get a service wash done, where you drop it off, they wash, dry and fold it, and you collect it later. But - I wouldn’t do that as a regular thing, as I think tumble drying does shrink your clothing, meaning you have to replace clothing much more regularly.

And it sounds like the big issue for you is the putting away of clean clothing, which going to a launderette would not help you with. Not sure how to get others to put clothes away, I have that problem with my kids too!

Taking it to a launderette won’t iron or put the clothes away. 🤷‍♀️

True and isn’t that the worst part really

I did this when my 3 children were teenagers. I would take all the bedding, towels and jeans etc to the launderette. I would also take a flask of coffee and a book and it was bliss for a few hours.
Then arrive home with piles of freshly laundered, dry washing.

They still won’t be put away though

Order the food shop to be delivered while you're out so DP and children will have to do it!